Charmed Forces Interview

Tell us a little bit about yourself and where you live.

We are two fashion-obsessed friends who go by the initials M&J and we live in Singapore! We have been friends for a long time and we decided to start Charmed Forces jewelry when we realized our pieces were garnering attention from people all over! For certain reasons, we'd prefer to remain as anonymous as possible and let the spotlight shine on our jewelry instead! ;)

What are your greatest passions?

Our greatest passions are anything and everything related to fashion! We love designing, mixing and matching clothes and jewelry pieces to create different looks and so much more! It's funny because neither of us thought of being in the fashion industry at all. We studied business related modules but our interest for fashion just could not be suppressed so we took a leap of faith and we ended up with Charmed Forces! Haha

How did you first get interested in jewelry and why is it important to you?

There are some people who love clothes and some who love jewelry and we are just avid jewelry lovers! To us, it's an art the way crystals, materials, metals and stones can be put together to create a statement piece!

Our idea to start Charmed Forces came when we just wouldn't find jewelry pieces that were "us". Majority of the pieces in the market were either mass produced which meant that a ton of people would have and wear the same things so it wouldn't be eye-catching as well as the fact that it was usually more of the simpler pieces that were available everywhere such as chain necklaces. We love things that are bold, unique and if they're one-of-a-kind and affordable, it's a plus!

So at first, we had pieces just for us to wear! We wore some of them when we traveled to several countries such as the UK, Australia, Japan, UAE and we were constantly stopped on the streets, cafes, restaurants and even malls! People would ask us where we got our pieces from because they were just so unique and different from what they would usually see in stores or on other people. That sparked the idea to start Charmed Forces and here we are!

Favorite designers and places to shop?

We're absolutely obsessed with Balmain, Versace, Giuseppe Zanotti and Alexander McQueen because we are huge fans of embellishments and bold pieces! Every piece they produce is just a work of art. Plus, they're not afraid to think out of the box and design pieces that are just magical! We also love brands like Marchesa, Oscar De La Renta and Valentino! However, we never limit ourselves to shopping at certain places. Instead, we love mixing and matching pieces we find from designer boutiques to high street stores to even small shops in a market!

Who motivates and supports you?

This is a hard question because there are so many elements and people that inspire, motivate and support us. Our family members have shown endless support from the start and we are so grateful to them for everything they've done for us.

What keeps us going is our never-ending love for fashion and jewelry! We are always so inspired by the outfits and looks that we see all over Instagram too! Also, our clients have been so encouraging! It means the world to us when a client takes some time to tell us how much she loves the piece she purchased and it honestly just drives us to do better! Our followers have been so supportive throughout all of this as well and we are so thankful for all the support we have received since Charmed Forces was set up!

A fashion rule you never break:

Always be confident and Accessorize, accessorize, accessorize! We always feel that an outfit is only complete with the right accessories! Even the most simplest of outfits have to be accessorized with either a pair of earrings or a simple bracelet but that's a rule we never break! However, even accessorizing won't work if the person isn't confident! Remember, wear the outfit, don't let the outfit wear you!

We are aware that some ladies are a bit intimidated by chunky accessories and are afraid they can't pull them off but we think otherwise! It takes some time to try a new trend or to break out of your comfort zone and we understand that but as long as you've got the confidence, you'll definitely be catching someone's attention in a good way ;) Confidence is beautiful,

What do you think is the most recent notable trend to appear/reappear, and what are your thoughts on it?

We've noticed that vintage pieces keep appearing and reappearing quite a lot lately such as vintage jewelry, clothes and bags! We've also noticed a lot of brands are into vibrant colors and embellishment- which we love so we don't mind! On the other hand, we generally try to avoid following trends as much as possible because what suits someone else may not suit you.

What is your next "must have" purchase?

A statement necklace from Charmed Forces ;) Haha.

Are there any fashion icons or famous people whose style you admire?

We just love Olivia Palermo's style! She's a person that can pull off just about any look! We can't help but fall head over heels for Blake Lively and her insanely amazing fashion sense! We are also huge fans of the fabulous @Upcloseandstylish on Instagram!

Are you considering coming to Egypt one day?

Definitely! We have a ton of Egyptian Charmers and we appreciate their never-ending support! We absolutely love each and every one of them. We have been to Dubai for an exhibition and we are definitely considering more countries so Egypt is not out of the question! Plus, we've noticed that Egyptian ladies are super confident and are not afraid to stand out and be unique- which we LOVE! We are always so impressed by their outfits and their stylish-ness!

What would you say to someone seeking fashion advice?

It sounds so cliche but just be yourself and don't forget to be confident! We live in a time and generation that accepts people in all shapes and sizes and styles! It also applies to trends. We do not believe that trends dictate what people should and should not wear. Plus, trends always come and go and it's your style and taste that remains throughout all of these changes in the fashion world.